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Topographical relationships of intramuscular nerves and vessels of the motor endplates in the thigh and gluteal regions of human fetuses: an immunohistochemical study

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to describe topography of vessels and nerves in striated muscles to understand individual muscle function.

Materials and methods

Immunohistochemistry for nerve and artery was used to examine the thigh and gluteal muscles of six human midterm fetuses.

Results

The supplying nerves often accompanied arteries along epimysium bundling muscle fibers as well as in the covering fascia surrounding the entire muscle mass. However, courses of nerve twigs were usually independent of those of vessels in muscle bundles. Notably, irrespective of whether or not the vascular bundle accompanied the nerves at the muscle surface or hilus, most of the motor endplate bands did not accompany the vessels.

Conclusion

Since the motor endplates were low vascularised, a chemical induction of vessels for nerve terminal development (or the reversed induction) seemed unlikely in striated muscles. In contrast to proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, manual stimulation of the endplate bands may stimulate muscle activity without sympathetic reflexes through vessel-accompanying nerves.

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Abbreviations

ADB:

Adductor brevis muscle

ADL:

Adductor longus muscle

ADM:

Adductor magnus muscle

BF:

Biceps femoris muscle

F:

Femur

FA:

Femoral artery

FN:

Femoral nerve

GR:

Gracilis muscle

GMD:

Gluteus medius muscle

GMI:

Gluteus minimus muscle

GMX:

Gluteus maximus muscle

IL:

Ilium

IP:

Iliopsoas muscle

LCFA:

Lateral circumflexus femoris artery

LFCN:

Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve

OE:

Obturator externus muscle

PE:

Pectineus muscle

PI:

Piriformis muscle

QF:

Quadratus femoris muscle

QI:

Obliquus internus abdominis muscle

RA:

Rectus abdominis muscle

RF:

Rectus femoris muscle

SA:

Sartorius muscle

SM:

Semimembranosus muscle

SN:

Sciatic nerve

ST:

Semitendinosus muscle (tendon)

TFL:

Tensor fasciae latae muscle

VL:

Vastus lateralis muscle

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medical Science, Wonkwang University Graduate School, Iksan, Korea

    Hyung Suk Jang

  2. Department of Neurology, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Institute of Wonkwang Medical Science, 895, Muwang-ro, Iksan, Jeonbuk, 570-711, Republic of Korea

    Kwang Ho Cho

  3. Division of Internal Medicine, Iwamizawa Kojin-kai Hospital, Iwamizawa, Japan

    Gen Murakami

  4. Department of Surgery, Chonbuk National University College of Medicine, Jeonju, Republic of Korea

    Baik Hwan Cho

Authors
  1. Hyung Suk Jang
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  2. Kwang Ho Cho
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  4. Baik Hwan Cho
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Correspondence to Kwang Ho Cho.

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Jang, H.S., Cho, K.H., Murakami, G. et al. Topographical relationships of intramuscular nerves and vessels of the motor endplates in the thigh and gluteal regions of human fetuses: an immunohistochemical study. Surg Radiol Anat 38, 587–596 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-015-1586-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-015-1586-5

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